DESCRIPTION:
The original EA-6A Intruder was developed from the A-6A attack plane to meet
a US Marine Corps requirement to replace the EF-10B Skyknight. A total of 27 were built or converted from
other airframes and formed into three squadrons to perform electronic warfare (EW) and gather electronic
intelligence. These aircraft were quickly employed in Vietnam to support strike aircraft and collect
reconnaissance on North Vietnamese electronic systems. In comparison with the basic A-6A, the EA-6A was
equipped with signals surveillance and recording systems, noise jammers, and a bulbous fairing atop the
vertical tail housing EW antennas. The EA-6A also retained a limited attack capability that was rarely
used. However, the aircraft was primarily an interim type withdrawn from service in the late 1970s when
the Marines received the newer EA-6B. A few remained in use with the US Navy into the early 1990s as
electronic agressor training aircraft.

A significant improvement in EW capabilities came with the development of the EA-6B, named the Prowler in
1972. While the earlier EA-6A had retained the same airframe as the A-6, the EA-6B is a fundamentally new
design mating the original A-6 wing to a lengthened fuselage. This fuselage extension provides room for
two additional crew members who sit in a second cockpit and operate the advanced AN/ALQ-99 TJS (Tactical
Jamming System). Located in the forward cockpit are the pilot and an additional ECM officer who is
responsible for navigation, communications, and defensive electronic countermeasures.

The primary capabilities of the EA-6B are provided by the TJS. This system is capable of detecting,
sorting, classifying, and dealing with a broad spectrum of frequency bands. The TJS can be operated in
automatic, semi-automatic, or manual modes using numerous antennas around the plane to detect electronic
emissions. Up to five external pods carried under the wing and fuselage also generate jamming signals to
degrade enemy radar. Though the first production aircraft were limited to four frequency bands, constant
upgrades have followed and steadily improved the capabilities of the TJS. The principal EA-6B upgrades are
EXCAP (Expanded Capability), ICAP (Improved Capability), ICAP-2, and ADVCAP (Advanced Capability).

Production of the EA-6B ceased in 1991 after the completion of some 170 aircraft. However, the extensive
use of these planes over the former Yugoslavia, the Persian Gulf, and Afghanistan has taken a heavy toll.
A series of structural and supportability upgrades are planned to keep the remaining EA-6B fleet in service
through at least 2010. Older models are also being upgraded to the latest standards through a conversion
in lieu of procurement policy institutued by the Navy. These upgrades will continue through 2010 when the
new EA-18G is due to enter service with the Navy. The EA-18G is an EW platform derived from the two-seat
F-18F Super Hornet.

The US Air Force has also made extensive use of the EA-6B following the retirement of its EF-111 Raven
fleet in 1996. Currently, Air Force crews are trained to operate a Navy EA-6B squadron and provide EW
support for USAF missions. The Air Force has proposed replacing these EA-6B aircraft with a mix of
EB-52s, EB-1s, or unmanned aerial vehicles.

five external hardpoints
seven external hardpoints through the VEP upgrade

Air-to-Air Missile

none

Air-to-Surface Missile

up to two AGM-88 HARM

Bomb

none

Other

up to five AN/ALQ-99F jamming pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:

YEA-6A

EA-6A prototype modified from a YA-6A development airframe; 1 converted

EA-6A Intruder

Electronic countermeasures and intelligence gathering platform based on the A-6A airframe, retained a
limited attack capability and developed for the US Marines; 6 converted (3 YA-6A, 3 A-6A) and 21 built

NEA-6A

EA-6A aircraft modified for use in special test roles; 1 converted

EA-6B BASCAP

New-build electronic countermeasures aircraft equipped with the ALQ-99 TJS, this Basic Capability model
covered four frequency bands and carried up to 5 underwing and underfuselage jammer pods; 23 built

Improved Capability 2 upgrade featuring software and display improvements allowing more accurate
identification of hostile emitters, better power management, and greater reliability and maintainability;
the external pods were also upgraded to generate signals in seven bands and to jam in two bands
simultaneously; 55 ICAP-1 models converted plus more newly built

EA-6B ICAP-2/Block 86

Upgrade providing communications system improvements and the ability to fire AGM-88 HARM missiles

EA-6B ICAP-2/Block 89

Upgrade featuring new displays, an improved fire detection and extinguishing system, and other safety
enhancements

EA-6B ICAP-2/Block 89A

Upgrade adding a new instrumented landing system with GPS and inertial navigation plus communications
enhancements

Vehicle Enhancement Program to incorporate structural and aerodynamic improvements including the addition
of fuselage strakes, modified flaps, slats, speed brakes, and a fin extension, uprated engines, and the
addition of two wing pylons dedicated to carrying HARM missiles